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Clinical Policy Title: Blepharoplasty

Clinical Policy Number: 10.03.01

Effective Date: July 1, 2013

Initial Review Date: June 19, 2013

Most Recent Review Date: May 1, 2018

Next Review Date: May 2019

Related policies:

None.

ABOUT THIS POLICY: AmeriHealth Caritas has developed clinical policies to assist with making coverage determinations. AmeriHealth Caritas’ clinical policies are based on guidelines from established industry sources, such as the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), state regulatory agencies, the American Medical Association (AMA), medical specialty professional societies, and peer-reviewed professional literature. These clinical policies along with other sources, such as plan benefits and state and federal laws and regulatory requirements, including any state- or plan-specific definition of “medically necessary,” and the specific facts of the particular situation are considered by AmeriHealth Caritas when making coverage determinations. In the event of conflict between this clinical policy and plan benefits and/or state or federal laws and/or regulatory requirements, the plan benefits and/or state and federal laws and/or regulatory requirements shall control. AmeriHealth Caritas’ clinical policies are for informational purposes only and not intended as medical advice or to direct treatment. Physicians and other health care providers are solely responsible for the treatment decisions for their patients. AmeriHealth Caritas’ clinical policies are reflective of evidence-based medicine at the time of review. As medical science evolves, AmeriHealth Caritas will update its clinical policies as necessary. AmeriHealth Caritas’ clinical policies are not guarantees of payment.

Coverage policy

AmeriHealth Caritas considers the use of blepharoplasty to be clinically proven and, therefore, medically

necessary when the following criteria are met, as per the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services [CMS]

local coverage determinations and medical policy article A52847 listed below:

Criteria for medical necessity

Upper eyelid reconstructive blepharoplasty (current procedural terminology

[CPT] codes 15822, 15823) is considered medically necessary for correction of

functional visual impairment due to any of the following indications:

o Dermatochalasis, blepharochalasis, or blepharoptosis with visual field

impairment, whether in primary gaze or down-gaze reading position.

o Ptosis or prosthesis difficulties in an anophthalmic socket.

o Epiphora (i.e., excessive tearing) due to ectropion and/or punctual eversion.

o Painful blepharospasm when debilitating and other treatments have failed or

are contraindicated (i.e., an injection of botulinum toxin A); an extended

Policy contains:

Cosmetic blepharoplasty.

Eyelid surgery.

Ptosis.

Reconstructive blepharoplasty.

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Criteria for medical necessity

blepharoplasty with wide resection of the orbicularis oculi muscle complex

may be necessary.

o Orbital sequelae of thyroid disease or nerve palsy (e.g., exposure keratitis).

o Upper eyelid defect caused by trauma, tumor, or ablative surgery resulting in

a severe physical deformity or disfigurement, which is causing functional

visual impairment as confirmed by preoperative frontal photographs.

o Congenital ptosis when needed to allow proper visual development and

prevent amblyopia in infants and children with moderate to severe ptosis

interfering with vision. Surgery is considered cosmetic if performed for mild

ptosis that is only of cosmetic concern. Photographs must be available for

review to document that the skin or upper eyelid margin obstructs a portion

of the pupil.

Lower lid blepharoplasty (CPT codes 15820 and 15821) is considered medically

necessary for correction of functional visual impairment due to any of the

following indications:

o Horizontal lower eyelid laxity of medial and lateral canthus resulting in

dacryostenosis and infection.

o Significant lower eyelid edema.

o When glasses rest upon the lower eyelid tissues and cause lower eyelid

ectropion as a result of the weight of the glasses and weight of the tissue.

Combination of blepharoplasty, blepharoptosis repair, and/or brow lift is

considered medically necessary when the medical necessity criteria for each

procedure are met and both of the following additional criteria are met:

o Visual field testing demonstrates visual impairment that cannot be addressed

by one procedure alone.

o Lateral and full face photographs with attempts at 1) brow elevation and 2)

upward gaze (i.e., with the brow relaxed) support the request.

Required documentation

(Must meet requirements from sections A, B, and C below)

A. Patient signs and symptoms which justify blepharoplasty may include any of the

following:

o Interference with vision or visual field, related to activities such as, difficulty

reading due to upper eyelid drooping, looking through the eyelashes, seeing

the upper eyelid skin, or brow fatigue.

o Chronic eyelid dermatitis due to redundant skin.

o Difficulty wearing prosthesis.

o Chronic blepharitis.

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Required documentation

(Must meet requirements from sections A, B, and C below)

B. Photographs and medical documentation of indications causing malpositioning of

the eyelid(s). Also may include:

o Margin reflex distance (MRD) of ≤ 2.5 mm; the upper eyelid margin

approaches to within 2.5 mm (1/4 of the diameter of the visible iris) of the

corneal light reflex.

o A palpebral fissure height on down-gaze of ≤ 1 mm. The down-gaze palpebral

fissure height is measured with the patient fixating on an object in down-gaze

with the ipsilateral brow relaxed and the contralateral lid elevated).

o The presence of Herring's effect meeting one of the above two criteria.

C. Visual fields testing must do all of the following:

o Demonstrate a minimum 12° or 30 percent loss of upper field of vision with

upper lid skin and/or upper lid margin in repose and elevated (by taping of

the lid) to demonstrate potential correction by the proposed procedure or

procedures.

o Meet accepted quality standards, whether they are performed by Goldmann

technique or by use of a standardized automated technique.

o Visual field testing is not necessary for:

1. Patients with an anophtholmic socket who is experiencing ptosis or

difficulty with their prosthesis.

2. Patients who are not capable of performing the testing, for example:

a. Child 12 years old or under.

b. Patient with mental retardation or some other severe neurologic

disease.

c. Coverage will be determined on the basis of clinical notes

documenting eyelid abnormality, MRD-1 of ≤ 2.5 mm and photographs

confirming the eyelid abnormality.

Limitations:

All other uses of blepharoplasty are not medically necessary. AmeriHealth Caritas considers blepharoplasty,

performed solely to enhance a patient’s appearance, in the absence of any signs or symptoms of functional

abnormalities, to be not medically necessary for individuals who do not meet the above criteria.

Alternative covered services:

Evaluation by network primary care physicians and eye care professionals.

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Background

Blepharoplasty is a procedure that reconstructs eyelid deformities and improves abnormal function and/or

enhances appearance of the eyelids. It involves the excision of excess skin, muscle or fat from the upper

and lower eyelids and may include rearrangement of the structures with the eyelids and/or tissues of the

cheek, forehead and nasal areas using local or distant tissue grafts to reconstruct the normal structure of

the eyelid. Advances in minimally invasive techniques, including laser-assisted applications, may allow for

greater patient comfort, fewer complications and more rapid recovery (American Society of Plastic

Surgeons [ASPS], 2007a). The annual number of blepharoplasties (for functional reasons) in the U.S. tripled

from 2001 to 2011 (now 136,000 a year), while the cost quadrupled to $80 million a year (Prendiville,

2014).

Blepharoplasty is considered restorative and, therefore, medically necessary when it is performed to

restore significant function to the eyelid that has been altered by trauma, infection, inflammation,

degeneration (e.g., from aging), neoplasia, or developmental defects. Cosmetic blepharoplasty is performed

to improve a patient’s appearance in the absence of any signs and/or symptoms of functional abnormalities

and is not considered medically necessary (ASPS, 2007a).

Patients who may require restorative blepharoplasty present with a variety of symptoms or combination of

symptoms, including edema, visual field defects, hypertrophy of the obicularis oculi, conjunctival

inflammation, keratitis, malar festoons, blepharospasm, blepharochalasis, dermatochalasis, lagophthalmos,

protrusion of orbital fat, eyelid ptosis, and eyebrow ptosis. To assess for ophthalmic and periocular disease,

surgeons look for current illnesses, dry eye, allergies, history of eyelid swelling, thyroid disease, heart

failure, and bleeding tendencies in the medical history.

Contraindications to blepharoplasty include:

Underlying conditions, such as Graves’ disease, that may be related to the development of

conditions that cause visual field loss, as the excessive eye bulk that may result from these

conditions will typically resolve after adequate medical treatment, obviating the need for

surgical intervention.

Untreated thyroid disease.

Conditions associated with dry eye syndrome (e.g., collagen vascular disorders, lupus,

rheumatoid arthritis, or Sjögren’s syndrome).

Active eye disease.

Surgical planning involves several factors, including whether upper or lower eyelids or both will be

surgically treated and the extent of surgical involvement, which technique(s) to use, and any adjunctive

procedures to be performed to restore more complete function or facial expression and for aesthetic

improvement. Adjunctive procedures include brow ptosis repair (internal trans-blepharoplasty, direct,

coronal, or endoscopic), ptosis repair, lacrimal gland suspension, eyelid lengthening and lower eyelid

tightening, or lateral canthopexy (Oestreicher, 2012).

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Documentation of medical necessity should include indications for reconstructive blepharoplasty, the

severity of the symptoms of eyelid deformities and/or the impact on health-related quality of life. If the

patient is experiencing visual impairment, formal visual field testing by an optometrist or ophthalmologist

may be needed. A complete eye exam may also be appropriate in certain cases. Other diagnostic studies, as

clinically indicated, should be performed and noted, such as Schirmer’s test (tearing or dry eye test),

CBC/BMP, bleeding and clotting studies, and cardiac evaluation. Preoperative photographs may be taken to

meet the requirements of both the insurers and surgeons. Additional photographs may include upward and

downward gaze as well as oblique views (ASPS, 2007a).

Visual field testing is used to measure the severity of eyelid and brow defects. The most significant visual

field measurement associated with determining the need for blepharoplasty is the superior visual field. The

normal extent of the superior visual field is approximately 55° to 60° at the 90° meridian. Impairment of the

superior visual field can range from 20 percent, considered mild ptosis, to 64 percent in more severe cases

where the eyelid crosses the middle of the pupil. In general, mild to moderate impairment of the visual field

is of no clinical significance and requires no intervention. When obstruction of the visual field becomes

severe or significant enough to interfere with the patient's ability to perform activities of daily living,

surgical intervention may be warranted. Generally accepted criteria for clinically significant visual field

impairment are a minimum of at least 20° or 30 percent loss of upper field vision with upper lid skin and/or

upper lid margin in repose and elevated (by taping of the lid) to demonstrate potential correction by the

proposed procedure or procedures (Oestreicher, 2012, ASPS 2007a, ASPS 2007b).

While blepharoplasty is a widely practiced surgical procedure, the potential for complications exists due to

the complex structure and function of the eyelids. Complications range from minor to serious and may be

perceived differently between patient and surgeon. These include superficial ecchymosis and hematoma,

wound dehiscence, scar abnormalities, upper eyelid overcorrection, lower eyelid overcorrection and

retraction, asymmetry, ptosis, epiphora and ocular discomfort, diplopia, ocular injury, orbital hemorrhage

and vision loss, pigmentary abnormalities, and CO2 laser resurfacing. Most complications can be avoided or

mitigated through appropriate patient selection, pre-surgical planning and choice of surgical technique, and

most can be treated effectively (Oestreicher, 2012).

Searches

AmeriHealth Caritas searched PubMed and the following databases:

UK National Health Services Centre for Reviews and Dissemination.

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality’s National Guideline Clearinghouse and other

evidence-based practice centers.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).

We conducted searches on March 14, 2018. Search terms were: "blepharoplasty" [MeSH].

We included:

Systematic reviews, which pool results from multiple studies to achieve larger sample sizes and

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greater precision of effect estimation than in smaller primary studies. Systematic reviews use

predetermined transparent methods to minimize bias, effectively treating the review as a

scientific endeavor, and are thus rated highest in evidence-grading hierarchies.

Guidelines based on systematic reviews.

Economic analyses, such as cost-effectiveness, and benefit or utility studies (but not simple

cost studies), reporting both costs and outcomes — sometimes referred to as efficiency studies

— which also rank near the top of evidence hierarchies.

Findings

The American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS, 2007) and the American Academy of Ophthalmology

(Cahill, 2011) have produced guidelines for blepharoplasty. Evaluating the efficacy of the procedure is

difficult, as the medical literature contains very few randomized controlled studies (RCTs) on the technique

(Chang, 2012).

While the procedure rarely results in major damage to the patient, a survey of 720 American and British

plastic surgeons estimated that permanent and temporary vision loss risk were 1 in 30,000 and 1 in 50,000

procedures, respectively. Hypertension was the greatest risk factor, while retrobulbar hemorrhage was the

main cause of blindness (Mejia, 2011).

A study of 200 patients who underwent blepharoplasty found 32 complications in 19 patients, the

equivalent of 9.5 percent (Patrocinio, 2011). One systematic review compared outcomes of four materials

used in 53 blepharoptosis procedures; it found a range of 87 to 99 percent, 0.6 to 1.9 percent for suture

infections, and 5 to 25 percent for complications (Pacella, 2016).

Side effects from blepharoplasty can be a concern, particularly anesthetic use. One study found that during

the procedure, 2 percent lidocaine injections using a sharp needle had greater average pain than when

using a blunt needle – 5.48 to 4.64 on the visual analog scale of 0 to 10. Bruises or hematomas were found

at 11 of 44 sharp needle sites, compared to 0 of 44 in blunt needle sites (Yu, 2017). Lidocaine with

epinephrine used in anesthesia for blepharoplasty had significantly less pain during anesthetizing than did

prilocaine with felypressin (Pool, 2015b).

Postoperative side effects have also been addressed. A survey of 51 blepharoplasty patients reported

postoperative peak levels for pain (four hours, average 2.45 pills), swelling and bruising (24 hours), and

itching (three days) (Parbhu, 2011). Using a pulsed electromagnetic energy patch made no difference in

post-operative pain, edema, or ecchymosis (Czyz, 2012). Among 38 patients, eyelid cooling failed to reduce

post-operative edema, erythema, hematoma of the eyelids, and pain on the day of surgery, but reduced

pain one day after blepharoplasty (Pool, 2015c).

Some blepharoplasties are performed simultaneously on both eyelids. One study of 127 patients who

underwent the procedure found a significant difference between marginal reflex distance from 1.62 to 3.97

mm before and after surgery, with favorable results and minimal complications (Hu, 2016). Another study

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of double-eyed blepharoplasty in 51 eyes of 39 patients with aponeurotic ptosis (aging eyelids) concluded

88 percent were successful (Li, 2011).

A Cochrane review of involutional entropion techniques of the lower eyelid identified one RCT with 63

subjects that found the combination of horizontal and vertical eyelid tightening with everting sutures and

lateral tarsal strip was highly curative for entropion compared to vertical tightening with everting sutures

alone in an elderly population (Boboridis, 2011). The authors also noted that the findings were supported

by many good-quality uncontrolled studies on specific surgical procedures that did not meet criteria for

inclusion.

Analyses that capture patient-centered benefits of blepharoplasty can be used to inform future economic

studies. Smith et al. conducted a cross-sectional study to measure self-reported patient benefit derived

from four common oculoplastic procedures using a global quality-of-life scale called the Glasgow benefit

inventory (GBI) (Smith, 2012). The GBI generates a scale from -100 (maximal detriment) through zero (no

change) to +100 (maximal benefit). The total GBI scores for entropion repairs (n = 66), ptosis repairs (n =

50), ectropion repairs (n = 41), and external dacryocystorhinostomies (DCR) (n = 41) were: +25.25 (95

percent CI 20.00-30.50, P < 0.001), +24.89 (95 percent CI 20.04-29.73, P < 0.001), +17.68 (95 percent CI

9.46-25.91, P < 0.001), and +32.25 (95 percent CI 21.47-43.03, P <0.001), respectively, demonstrating a

statistically significant benefit from all procedures.

Policy updates:

In 2017, a total of one guideline/other and nine peer-reviewed references were added to this policy.

In 2018, one peer-reviewed publication was added to the reference list.

Summary of clinical evidence:

Citation Content, Methods, Recommendations

Yu (2017)

Comparison of types of

needles used in

anesthesia

Key points:

RCT of 44 women undergoing bilateral upper blepharoplasty.

Anesthesia 2% lidocaine given with blunt needle in one eyelid, sharp needle in the other.

Bruise/hematoma in 11 women with sharp needle, 0 in blunt needle group.

Mean visual analog scale score higher/worse for sharp needle group (5.45 vs. 4.64).

Hu (2016)

Simultaneous

blepharoplasty

Key points:

Chart review of 127 patients with simultaneous correction of blepharoptosis during double

eyelid blepharoplasty using single-knot continuous non-incisional technique.

Simultaneous correction resulted in significant difference in marginal reflux distance of eyelid

(1.62 to 3.97 mm).

Majority of patients showed favorable outcomes during five-year follow up.

Pool (2015c)

Key points:

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Citation Content, Methods, Recommendations

Efficacy of eyelid

cooling to reduce post-

op pain and other side

effects

RCT with 38 patients undergoing bilateral blepharoplasty.

One eyelid cooled with an ice pack, one left uncooled, evaluated up to two months.

No difference in pain between groups.

Pain lower in cooled group one day post-op, but not for any other time period.

Chang (2012)

Involutional upper eyelid

ptosis repair techniques

Key points:

Systematic review — No prospective RCT identified.

Systematic review of available observational studies is needed to determine efficacy and

complication rates between different involutional lid ptosis repair techniques.

Czyz (2012)

Recovery using pulsed

electromagnetic energy

after blepharoplasty

Key points:

Randomized, double-blind study of 57 patients with upper blepharoplasty

Patients randomized to a low-level pulsed electromagnetic energy field patch for wound healing

vs. placebo

No difference in patient pain with placebo (1.6) vs. patch (1.3)

Insignificant difference in the two groups for edema (6% less for patch) and ecchymosis (10%

less for patch); significantly less physician-graded erythema for patch group

Patrocino (2011)

Review of complication

rates

Key points:

Retrospective study of 200 patients who underwent transcutaneous blepharoplasty

19 patients had complications (9.5% rate)

Most complications were 12 cases of chemosis, 13 who underwent canthoplasty

Medical treatment performed in 12 patients, revision surgery performed in 7 patients

Borboridis (2011)

Involutional entropion

techniques

Key points:

Cochrane review — one RCT of 63 participants included with eight lost to follow-up.

Combination of horizontal and vertical lower eyelid tightening with everting sutures and lateral

tarsal strip is highly curative for entropion compared to vertical tightening with everting sutures

alone.

Authors noted that results were supported by many good-quality uncontrolled studies on

specific surgical procedures, but the studies did not meet criteria for inclusion.

CMS policies:

Insurer Content

Medicare

Coverage indications, limitations, and/or medical necessity:

A. Upper eyelid blepharoplasty (CPT 15822 and 15823) procedures will be considered

medically necessary when performed as functional/reconstructive surgery to correct:

1. Visual impairment with near or far vision due to dermatochalasis, blepharochalasis or

blepharoptosis; or visual field impairment whether in primary gaze or down-gaze

reading position; or a decrease in peripheral vision and/or upper field vision.

2. Symptomatic redundant skin weighing down on upper lashes.

3. Chronic, symptomatic dermatitis of pretarsal skin caused by redundant upper lid

skin.

4. Ptosis or prosthesis difficulties in an anophthalmic socket.

B. Lower lid blepharoplasty (CPT 15820 and 15821) is considered medically necessary

when documentation:

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Insurer Content

Supports horizontal lower eyelid laxity of medial and lateral canthus resulting in

dacryostenosis and infection.

Supports significant lower eyelid edema.

Reveals that glasses rest upon the lower eyelid tissues and cause lower eyelid

ectropion as a result of the weight of the glasses and weight of the tissue.

Payment may be considered on an individual consideration basis when

supportive documentation (e.g., the patient's chief complaint and operative

report) is included as part of the patient’s medical record to demonstrate that

the procedure is medically necessary for reconstructive reasons.

C. Relief of eye symptoms associated with blepharospasm (333.81). Primary essential

idiopathic blepharospasm is characterized by severe squinting, secondary to

uncontrollable spasms of the periorbital muscles. Occasionally, it can be debilitating. If

other treatments have failed or are contraindicated (i.e., an injection of botulinum toxin A),

an extended blepharoplasty with wide resection of the orbicularis oculi muscle complex

may be necessary.

Documentation of the following criteria (A, B, C, and D, if applicable) must be met to establish

medical necessity:

A. Patient signs and symptoms that justify functional surgery may include:

1. Interference with vision or visual field, related to activities such as difficulty reading

due to upper eyelid drooping, looking through the eyelashes, seeing the upper eyelid

skin and brow fatigue.

2. Chronic eyelid dermatitis due to redundant skin.

3. Difficulty wearing prosthesis.

4. Chronic blepharitis.

B. Photographs and medical documentation of one or more of the following:

1. Frontal photos are needed to demonstrate redundant skin on the upper eyelids.

2. Upper eyelid skin resting on the eyelashes or over eyelid margin.

3. Upper eyelid indicates the presence of dermatitis, or upper eyelid dermatitis

secondary to redundant skin.

4. Dermatochalasis (ICD-9 code 374.87).

5. The upper eyelid position contributes to difficulty tolerating a prosthesis in an

anophthalmia socket.

6. Also may include:

a. MRD of 2.5 mm or less; the upper eyelid margin approaches to within 2.5 mm

(1/4 of the diameter of the visible iris) of the corneal light reflex.

b. A palpebral fissure height on down-gaze of 1 mm or less. The down-gaze

palpebral fissure height is measured with the patient fixating on an object in

down-gaze with the ipsilateral brow relaxed and the contralateral lid elevated.

c. The presence of Herring's effect meeting one of the above two criteria.

(Herring's law is one of equal innervation to both upper eyelids and is

considered in the documentation to perform bilateral ptosis in which the position

of one upper eyelid has marginal criteria and the other eyelid has good

supportive documentation for ptosis surgery. In these cases, the surgeon can lift

the more ptotic lid with tape or instillation of phenylepherine drops into the

superior formix. If the less ptotic lid then drops downward according to Herring's

law to the point of an MRD of 2.5 mm or less or a down-gaze MRD of 1.5 or less

or a palpebral fissure width on down-gaze of 1 mm or less, then the less ptotic

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Insurer Content

lid would be considered for surgical correction.)

C. Visual fields testing recorded to:

1. Demonstrate a minimum 12° degree or 30 percent loss of upper field of vision with

upper lid skin and/or upper lid margin in repose and elevated (by taping of the lid) to

demonstrate potential correction by the proposed procedure or procedures. Visually

significant brow ptosis may be documented by visual field testing with the brow

elevated demonstrating a difference of 12° or more or 30 percent superior visual

field difference.

2. Visual fields need to meet accepted quality standards, whether they are performed

by Goldmann technique or by use of a standardized automated technique.

3. Visual fields are not necessary for patients with an anophtholmic socket who are

experiencing ptosis of difficulty with their prosthesis.

D. If a combination of a blepharoplasty and another repair (e.g., ptosis repair or brow lift) are

planned, both must be individually documented.

Limitations:

1. Blepharoplasty done for cosmetic purposes, not meeting the criteria of the functional

visual impairment parameters previously listed, will be denied.

2. When the physician has determined that the patient requires a bilateral blepharoplasty,

bilateral blepharoptosis repair or bilateral brow ptosis repair, it is expected that the

procedures will be performed on the same date of service. Bilateral procedures performed

on different dates of service require documentation in the patient’s medical record to

support the medical necessity of performing these procedures on different dates of

service.

3. External ocular photography (92285) is not payable when used to support the need for

blepharoplasty, blepharoptosis or brow ptosis.

References

Professional society guidelines/other:

Allmed Healthcare Management. White Paper: Eyelid Surgery (Blepharoplasty) & Visual Field Testing:

Medically Necessary or Cosmetic? http://allmedmd.com/resources/Blepharoplasty_WP.pdf. Accessed April

13, 2017.

American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS). Practice Parameter for Blepharoplasty. ASPS, 2007a.

https://www1.plasticsurgery.org/ebusiness4/sso/login.aspx. Accessed April 13, 2017.

American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS). ASPS Recommended Insurance Coverage Criteria for Third-

Party Payers Blepharoplasty. Arlington Heights IL: ASPS, 2007b.

http://www.plasticsurgery.org/Documents/medical-professionals/health-policy/insurance/ASPS-

Recommended-Insurance-Coverage-Criteria-for-Blepharoplasty.pdf. Accessed March 15, 2018.

Cahill KV, Bradley EA, Meyer DR, et al. Functional indications for upper eyelid ptosis and blepharoplasty

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surgery: a report by the American Academy of Ophthalmology. Ophthalmology. 2011;118(12):2510 – 17.

Christie B, Block L, Ma Y, Wick A, Afifi A. Retrobulbar hematoma: A systematic review of factors related to

outcomes. J Plast, Reconstr & Aesthet Surg. 2018;71(2):155-161.

Prendeville S. Upper eyelid surgery: will Medicare pay? Fort Myers FL: News-Press.com, March 11, 2014.

http://www.news-press.com/story/life/wellness/2014/03/10/upper-eyelid-surgery-will-medicare-

pay/6273801/. Accessed March 15, 2018.

Peer-reviewed references:

Boboridis Kostas G, Bunce C. Interventions for involutional lower lid entropion. Cochrane Database Syst

Rev. 2011;12:CD002221.

Chang S, Lehrman C, Itani K, Rohrich RJ. A systematic review of comparison of upper eyelid involutional

ptosis repair techniques: efficacy and complication rates. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2012;129(1):149 – 57.

Czyz CN, Foster JA, Lam VB, et al. Efficacy of pulsed electromagnetic energy in postoperative recovery from

blepharoplasty. Dermatol Surg. 2012;38(3):445 – 50.

Drolet BC, Sullivan PK. Evidence-based medicine: blepharoplasty. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2014;133(5):1195 –

205.

Hu JW, Byeon JH, Shim HS. Simultaneous double eyelid blepharoplasty and ptosis correction with a single-

knot, continuous, non-incisional technique: a five-year review. Aesthet Surg J. 2016;36(1):14 – 20.

Li J, Lin M, Zhou H, Jia R, Fan X. Double-eyelid blepharoplasty incorporating blepharoptosis surgery for

‘latent” aponeurotic ptosis. J Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg. 2011;64(8):993 – 99.

Mejia JD, Egro FM, Nahai F. Visual loss after blepharoplasty: incidence, management, and preventive

measures. Aesthet Surg J. 2011;31(1):21 – 29.

Oestreicher J, Mehta S. Complications of blepharoplasty: prevention and management. Plast Surg Int.

2012;2012:252368. Doi: 10.1155/2012/252368. 1 – 10.

Pacella E, Mipatrini D, Pacella F, et al. Suspensory materials for surgery of blepharoptosis: A systematic

review of observational studies. PLoS One. 2016;11(9):e0160827.

Parbhu KC, Hawthorne KM, McGwin G Jr, Vincinanzo MG, Long JA. Patient experience with blepharoplasty.

Ophthal Plast Reconstr Surg. 2011;27(3):152 – 54.

Patrocinio TG, Loredo BA, Arevalo CE, Patrocinio LG, Patrocinio JA. Complications in blepharoplasty: How to

avoid and manage them. Braz J Otorhinolaryngol. 2011;77(3):322 – 27.

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Pool SM, Krabbe-Timmerman IS, Cromheecke M, van der Lei B. Improved upper blepharoplasty outcome

using an internal intradermal suture technique: a prospective randomized study. Dermatol Surg.

2015c;41(2): 246 – 49.

Pool SM, Struys MM, van der Lei B. A randomized double-blinded crossover study comparing pain during

anaesthetizing the eyelids in upper blepharoplasty: First versus second eyelid and lidocaine versus

prilocaine. J Plast Reconstr Easthet Surg 2015a;68(9):1242 – 47.

Pool SM, van Exsel DC, Melenhorst WB, Cromheecke M, van der Lei B. The effect of eyelid cooling on pain,

edema, erythema, and hematoma after upper blepharoplasty: A randomized, controlled observer-blinded

evaluation study. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2015b;135(2):277e – 81e.

Smith HB, Jyothi SB, Mahroo OA, et al. Patient-reported benefit from oculoplastic surgery. Eye (Lond). 2012;

26(11):1418 – 23.

Yu W, Jin Y, Yang J, et al. Occurrence of bruise, hematoma, and pain in upper blepharoplasty using blunt-

needle vs sharp-needle anesthetic injection in upper blepharoplasty: A randomized controlled trial. JAMA

Facial Plast Surg. 2017;19(2):128 – 32.

CMS National Coverage Determinations (NCDs):

No NCDs identified as of the writing of this policy.

Local Coverage Determinations (LCDs):

A52847 Blepharoplasty – Medical Policy Article. Revision effective January 1, 2018.

L33994 Blepharoplasty (CGS Administrators LLC). Revision effective October 1, 2015.

L34194 Blepharoplasty, Eyelid Surgery and Brow Lift (Noridian Healthcare Solutions LLC). Revision effective

October 1, 2015.

L36286 Blepharoplasty, Eyelid Surgery and Brow Lift (Noridian Healthcare Solutions LLC). Revision effective

October 1, 2015.

L34528 Blepharoplasty, Blepharoptosis and Brow Lift (Wisconsin Physicians Service Insurance Corporation).

Revision effective October 1, 2017.

L34411 Blepharoplasty, Eyelid Surgery and Brow Lift (Palmetto GBA). Revision effective February 26, 2018.

L35004 Surgery: Blepharoplasty (Novitas Solutions, Inc.). Revision effective December 30, 2015.

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Commonly submitted codes

Below are the most commonly submitted codes for the service(s)/item(s) subject to this policy. This is not

an exhaustive list of codes. Providers are expected to consult the appropriate coding manuals and bill

accordingly.

CPT Code Description Comment

15820 Blepharoplasty, lower eyelid

15821 Blepharoplasty, lower eyelid; with extensive, herniated fat pad

15822 Blepharoplasty, upper eyelid

15823 Blepharoplasty, upper eyelid; with excessive skin weighting down lid

67900 Repair of brow ptosis (supraciliary, mid-forehead or coronal approach)

67901 Repair of blepharoptosis; frontalis muscle technique with suture or other

material (e.g., banked fascia)

67902 Repair of blepharoptosis; frontalis muscle technique with autologous

fascial sling (includes obtaining fascia)

67903 Repair of blepharoptosis; (tarso) levator resection or advancement,

internal approach

67904 Repair of blepharoptosis; (tarso) levator resection or advancement,

external approach

67906 Repair of blepharoptosis; superior rectus technique with fascial sling

(includes obtaining fascia)

67908 Repair of blepharoptosis; conjunctivo-tarso-Muller’s muscle-levator

resection (eg, Fasanella-Servat type)

ICD-10 Code Description Comment

G24.5 Blepharospasm

H02.101-H02.109 Unspecified ectropion of eyelid

H02.111-H02.119 Cicatricial ectropion of eyelid

H02.121-H02.129 Mechanical ectropion of eyelid

H02.131-H02.139 Senile ectropion of eyelid

H02.141-H02.149 Spastic ectropion of eyelid

H02.30-H02.36 Blepharochalasis eyelid

H02.401-H02.409 Unspecified ptosis of eyelid

H02.411-H02.419 Mechanical ptosis of eyelid

H02.421-H02.429 Myogenic ptosis of eyelid

H02.431-H02.439 Paralytic ptosis of eyelid

H02.831-H02.839 Dermatochalasis of eyelid

H16.211-H16.219 Exposure keratoconjunctivitis

Q10.0-Q10.3 Congenital ptosis

HCPCS

Level II Code Description Comment

N/A